Your Jan. 20 article on more stop signs in Richfield caused me to pause and reflect on my growing frustration with the bumper crop of stop signs that has sprouted over the last few years. I don't want to pile on MnDOT, but I have become aware of how many times I am left sitting at a stop sign and have also noticed that my car registers far better gasoline mileage when I am on the freeway rather than idling at a stop sign. More stop signs will definitely cut down on moving violations and accidents, as most cars will be immobile at any given time.

We were in Beijing a few years ago and noticed that the Chinese deal with semaphores by ignoring them. The traffic stops not when the light turns red but when the line of cars completely clogs the intersection. The other side then bulls its way through and starts its own line of traffic until the process is repeated. People drive on the sidewalk and through any and every opening available.

I'm afraid that might be where we are heading. I see more and more cars entering intersections on red and the word YIELD no longer communicates. Frustration has led to what kids refer to as "No Cop, No Stop."

I think we need to get beyond believing that the solution to every traffic flow problem is another stop sign. I have come to believe there is a reason we call them stop signs and no longer stop and go signs.

EDDIE RYSHAVY, PLYMOUTH